God's Words of Life for Fathers

by Zondervan Publishing

God’s Words of Life on
ANGER

Better a patient person than a warrior,
one with self-control
than one who takes a city.

Proverbs 16:32

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and
slow to become angry, because human anger does not
produce the righteousness that God desires.

James 1:19–20

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down
while you are still angry.

Ephesians 4:26

Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

Proverbs 17:14

A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 15:1

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for
God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will
repay,” says the Lord.

Romans 12:19

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,
for anger resides in the lap of fools.

Ecclesiastes 7:9

Whoever is patient has great understanding,
but one who is quick-tempered
displays folly.

Proverbs 14:29

The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,
but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.
A quick-tempered
person does foolish things,
and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.

Proverbs 14:16–17

A hot-tempered
person stirs up conflict,
but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.

Proverbs 15:18

I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands
without anger or disputing.

1 Timothy 2:8

Do not make friends with a hot-tempered
person,
do not associate with one easily angered,
or you may learn their ways
and get yourself ensnared.

Proverbs 22:24–25

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does
not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others,
it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered, it keeps no
record of wrongs.

1 Corinthians 13:4–5

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.

Proverbs 25:21–22

“Anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be
subject to judgment. . . . Therefore, if you are offering
your gift at the altar and there remember that your
brother or sister has something against you, leave your
gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled
to them; then come and offer your gift.”

Matthew 5:22–24

Devotional Thought on
ANGER

From the beginning of the account of Job and his trials,
God collected Job’s complaints like coupons. Then, in
chapters 38 through 41, God visits the grocery store. Aisle by
aisle, line by line, verse by verse, the sovereign God gets ready
to cash in His coupons at Job’s checkout counter. Nowhere
else in the Bible does God more thoroughly defend Himself.

Taking a step back, I find the most striking thing about
this monologue is neither God’s outburst nor the fact of His
right to defend Himself. To me, the most amazing thing is
that God chooses not to do this in other places in the Bible.
Instead of putting people in their rightful place when they
deserve it, God more often than not is merciful and slow to
anger. So God’s power is not revealed in His speech to Job.
Rather it’s revealed in His incredible restraint.

Every time you hold back from the lecture you think
your family “deserves,” you add more coupons. Now, take
a lesson from God’s actions in the Bible. Learn the power of
mercy and restraint. Cash in these coupons only when the
time comes to transform that withheld power into something
truly important—and
helpful—to
your family.

God’s Words of Life on
COMMITMENT

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the
proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9

Be strong and do not give up, for your work will be
rewarded.

2 Chronicles 15:7

Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.

Psalm 37:5–6

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always
perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:6–7

“I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will
never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them
to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.”

Jeremiah 32:40

May your hearts be fully committed to the Lord our
God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands.

1 Kings 8:61

Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death.

Song of Songs 8:6

Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the
teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues
in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

2 John v. 9

Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?
The one whose walk is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart.

Psalm 15:1–2

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you
will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his
good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that
no one will take your crown.”